Estimated Northwest Crop Potential:
This season we are happily anticipating increases in tonnage during the month of June, primarily due to new acreage of Dark Sweet varieties like Coral Champagne and Black Pearl. Superfresh Growers will also have an increase in late-season varieties that will allow ad volumes to remain available through July and into August. With over 9,000 acres of cherries, we’re ready to meet your demand! The Northwest cherry crop is estimated upwards of 24-25 million spread throughout June, July, and August, but more accurate estimates can be made as we progress through bloom and get closer to harvest. Depending on how the next few weeks of weather and pollination go, the crop estimate could end up closer to the 20 million boxes we have harvested the last two seasons. A more accurate estimate will be completed by the first week of May.
Estimated Start Date:
Currently, we are trending toward beginning harvest the week of June 6th. This date is based on a five-year average as well as current weather patterns.
Orchard Update:
Although we have seen full bloom in early growing districts, in more northern areas the buds are still tight. We are in the middle of a cooling pattern that has slowed bud movement in these areas, and slowed pollination and extended bloom in others. We are still 10-14 days from full bloom in these later districts as a result of this, which indicates we are looking at a healthy spread between the growing areas. After last summer’s heatwave, many feared a compressed bloom this spring, resulting in growing regions maturing simultaneously. While we could still see some of this effect in a couple weeks, it seems the spread between Yakima, Wenatchee, Orondo, Brewster, and Okanogan County will be favorable for labor flow during harvest. This in turn will aid quality and condition as fruit maturity will advance as crews work through the orchards harvesting cherries this summer.
